Vehicle propelling means



March -30 1926.

1,578,883 I M. A. ESTES VEHICLE PROPELLING MEANS Filed Sept. 15

1924 Z Sheets-Sheet 1 March 30 1926.

M. A. ESTES I VEHICLE PROPELLING MEANS Filed Sept. 15, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwmmto'o MfLEsies attozwug Patented Mar. 30,1926,

MAnsnALn'A. 'nsrnsor nsrns, vmemrau vErrIcLE' PROPELLING MEANS; 7

Application filed September 15, 1924/ Serial No. 737,769.

To all whom it may concern:

sidesinv theiprovision of aivehicle having a motor capable of driving the vehicle either Belt known'that I, MAnsnAiin 'Es'rns, a citizen of the United States, residing'at State of Virginia, have inventedinew and useful Improvements in VehicleProp'elling ful Improvements in Vehicle 1 Propel-ling Means, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vehicles and moreparticularly to a motor propelled ve' hicle.

The vprimary-object of this invention residesin the provision of a vehicle having a motor capable of delivering the maximum power to the driving wheels of the vehicle with the minimum: consumption of fuel.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a vehicle having a motor that can be operated with either fuel or air under pressure.

Another'object of this invention resides in the provision of a vehicle having a motor gaseous so connected to the driving wheels of. the

vehicle that-even traction will be obtained when traversing sound roads and the full power of the motor deliveredto either drive 'wheel should the other sli ,or skid.

' A still further object 0 this invention re forwardly or backwardlyf and yet permit the vehicle to be stopped rwithout' interfering with the operation of the moton' q 9 In addition to the foregoing objects, this invention resides in the provision of a power driven vehicleconslstmo: of an assemblage.

of. cooperating elements, adapted to prevent the vehicle frommoving backward should-it be stopped on a grade. I p 3 "Besides the aforesaid objects, this inven-- tion includes amotor of particular'construotion whose operation is dependent on the.

particular manner of connecting certain auxiliaries thereof to avehicle. a V I v a With these and other objects in view, this invention resides in certain novel features; I of construction,arrangement and combination of elements to be. hereinafter-set forth;

in the specification, illustrated in the-saccompanylng drawings and pointed out .in the appended claims and,-w sure depicts my present conception of the invention, the right is reserved to make such changes as come within the scope of the claims. I v

the driving axles of ile the disclo- 1 In the'jaccompany-ing drawings forming a L part of thisapplicationj 151g, 1 1s a plan view of the chassisof a vehicle showing the elements of this inve tron'in operative relation thereon. j

N F g. 2 189, side v ew ofthe same. a

motor. 7 p v Fig. 4 1s an; enlarged sectional View of the driving axles of the vehicle.

Flg, 3 "is an enlarged detailed viewfof the @Fig. 5 is a detail sectional View of on'e of the driving wheel clutches i In the *present "embodiment a of: this invention, the numeral 5 "designates the chassis ofa vehicle, preferably an automobile, and,

among other necessary auxiliaries thereto,

hicle consists of acylinder'll having com bustlon chambers 12- at its opposite endsin communication with inlet ports 13'' and exhaust ports'l l,the' formerbeing connected to the. source of fuel supply through the instrumentality of a manifold 15 havinga reciprocating valve 16ptlierein for alternate-i l ,supplyingthefcombustionichambers, while the latter i's-provided with an fold 17 "for obvious reasons.

' W'thin the cylinder is a reciprocating ton 18 having a piston; rod LQeXtending through a packing gland 20 -in one endof exhaust mania V V the cylinder andis connected tola 'crosshead" '21-carry'ingracks '22; at its opposite ends,

one of which is connectedto the aforesaid valve 16- to alternately open and'close the fuel into the combustion, proper time.

Preferably adjacent the 21 i a similar crosshead 23 havingi its opposite ends connectedto' reciprocatingrods 24 cari rying spur I gears '25 which are retained inmesh with-the racks 22 through theprovision of racks 26 contacting with-the opposite sides thereof and forming guides therefor; r v a The last mentioned crosshead isconnected 100 inlet ports and thuspermitzi j I chambers at; the

- to the crank 9 throu h the instrumentality of a connecting rod 2 to impart rotary mo tion to the axles" as the crossheads recipro successful operation of the motor is not de pendent-upon the storage of gaseous fuel.

As an auxiliary to the supply tank an air compressor 29, as shown in my Patent No. 1,389,089 is connected with the tank and is operated through the instrumentality of suitable gearing 30 connected to one of, the dr1ving axles as at 31., This compressor is of such construction that the maximum supply of air will be delivered tothe fuel supply tank with the minimum resistance to the propulsion ofthe vehicle and, 'vvhenthesame is utilized to charge the tank with. compressed air, only. to operate; the motor, the

same will automatically maintain an even pressure in the tank and operate 'lireely when a: full head of pressure. is stored in: the tank. In conjunction with the motor, an ignition system 32; is provided and, among the many auxiliaries thereto, includes a magneto and spark plugs-34c. v Toeliminate accidental backward movement ofthe vehicleshould it .be stopped or Stalled on a hill; orzgrade, the axle housing H is provided with a brake B which consists of a dog 35 disposed to cooperate with a ratchet wheel 36- oarried by the axleand adapted. tobe released by suitable means37 underthe control: of. the operator.-

With this: embodiment of: elements assembledj in. coo erativ'e' relation on a'vehicle it will: be noted that the liquid gaseous fuel within the tank will be compressed: sufiiciently to cause it to pass through theintake valve intothe combustion chambers of the motor atthe proper time, whereupon the ignition system: will cause'it to explode, at the proper time driving the piston on its work ing strokes. During the reciprocatingmo- .tion of the piston, the first mentioned cross' head will manipulate the second mentioned crosshead, through I the instrumentality of the i gear and rack connections therebetween, whereupon power will betransmitted to the driving axles through the provision of the connecting link between the second mentioned cross-head and crank connecting the opposed ends of the rear axles. With motion. thus imparted to the driving axles the 'compressorwill continue to'ope'rate toemaintain pressure within the; fuel supply tank and, where compressed air is utilized for driving; the piston-,instead of the expansive force of ignited gaseous fuel, thecompressor will charge the tank with sufficient air to propel the vehicle as aforesaid.

The tank 28, during operation of the engineby gasoline, is so connected to the compressorthat, as the gasoline is used up, the tank is filled with compressed air so that the engine will runevenafter all gasoline is exhausted. The gears 25 and racks 22 serve to regulate the movement of cross head 28in such manner that it moves but one hal-f the stroke of the piston.

This invention: while being primarily disclosed as a motor vehicle can; readily be utilizedfor supplying compressed air tov storage tanks from which; it is utilized for numerous purposes, especially since the compressor can be operated with the vehicle standing still. 7 V

With this invention fully described it is manifest that a motor vehicle is provided which is capable of'producing the maximum of power with the minimum consumption of fuel and, tl11'ougl1..the particular arrangement of. elements involved in its construc tion, the range of utility extends into numerous industries.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desiretoprotect by Letters Patent isz' g A wheeled IOfldl vehicle of the character set forth comprising driving axles, a crank, clutches. connectingthe crank to the inner opposed ends of the axles, a motor, a reciprocating piston therein, a piston rod-carried by the piston and projecting throughone rods connecting'the'spur gears andsecond mentioned crosshead, a linl'rconnecting the second mentioned crosshead with the crank.

of the driving axles, a mitre-gear on 5 one of the drivingaxles', a IBCIPFQCiLtl-DgCOIIlPIQS- sor, a'mitregear carried by the compressor for engagement with the mitre-gear on" the drivingaxle, transmittin g -mea'ns between-thecompressor-"and 'mitre-g'ear thereof, a fuel storage tank in communication with the compressor, a'reciprocatingvalve connected to the first mentioned crosshead and dis posed betweenthe fuel'storage tank andfmotor tO-&ClII1ii7 'fLlGl into-the combustionchambers of the motor, and clutches between the driving axles and wheels.

In testimony whereof I aflix 'mysignature.

rransnann A. nsrns. 

